Chapter 170 – Key (13)
◎ The gene is not recorded in the database ◎
Click.
Tonight, the apartment’s main door was exceptionally busy, Fang Zhixu and Zhuang Qingyan returned almost simultaneously.
“How is it, Old Fang? Is General Ye feeling better?” Lin Youyou sat up, or rather, twisted into a challenging Pilates pose on the sofa. Her yoga skirt slipped, revealing a dazzling glimpse of her slender waist.
On the opposite side, Su Cha paused in lifting dumbbells, silently turning his gaze away and grabbing a blanket to cover her.
Fang Zhixu’s throat was almost smoking dry, “Wait a moment, let me have a sip of water first.”
He took two quick steps, unceremoniously twisted open Xu Xing’s specially made children’s drink, apple-flavored with probiotics, and gulped it down without leaving a drop.
Xu Xing was stunned for two seconds, “Ahh! You nasty old man!” Damn it, he deliberately saved the good stuff to drink last!
Fang Zhixu put down the medicine box and looked at everyone with a serious expression, “General Ye fainted twice suddenly today and has been taken to the specialized hospital for awakeners for treatment. He just woke up before I came back.”
“What? It’s that serious?!” Lin Youyou instantly sat up straight.
Zhuang Qingyan and Song Ke, who came out of the bathroom, also heard Fang Zhixu’s words.
“Huh, then why did you come back?” Xu Xing sneakily pulled Fang Zhixu’s braid, “Is it because the doctor is better than you, so you got kicked out~”
“It’s useless for me to stay. The injuries from the assassination have healed. General Ye fainted due to organ aging, causing compromised compensatory function. Although it hasn’t reached the point of failure, it has severely affected various vital signs.” Fang Zhixu skillfully held down Xu Xing, giving two slaps on the buttocks.
And Xu Xing, who was used to being pampered by him, had no psychological preparation for being hit and widened his eyes in surprise.
“General Ye and the others are persuading him to switch to bionic organs, which is the only solution at the moment.” Fang Zhixu casually rubbed Xu Xing’s head, muttering to himself, “If only we could reverse… no, just delay organ aging.”
Lin Youyou raised a question, “So switching to bionic organs will solidify the awakener level? But it’s okay for S-level to solidify, right?”
Annoyed and embarrassed, Xu Xing struggled, used both hands and feet, biting Fang Zhixu’s arm fiercely.
“Hiss…” Fang Zhixu let go in pain, and Xu Xing covered his buttocks, taking the opportunity to run out with a clatter. Fang Zhixu shook his head helplessly, a bright white healing light flashed, and the teeth marks disappeared, leaving a sticky circle of saliva.
Zhuang Qingyan happened to block Xu Xing’s escape route and conveniently lifted him by the back of his collar, throwing him back to Fang Zhixu.
Xu Xing: “?”
“With General Ye’s current condition, 90% of his organs must be replaced. It’s not as simple as level solidification,” Zhuang Qingyan calmly explained. “It’s equivalent to completely dismantling and destroying the magnetic field within the body. In other words, he will go from an S-level awakener… to an ordinary person.”
The spacious living room fell into silence, even the playful antics of Fang Zhixu and Xu Xing quieted down.
For someone who has never awakened, it might be fine, but for an awakener to return to an ordinary person, it is too cruel for anyone.
…
Before going to sleep, Song Ke sneaked into Zhuang Qingyan’s bedroom and poked him on the quilt.
Zhuang Qingyan seemed to have anticipated her arrival, not surprised at all as he put down the light screen in his hand, “You want to ask if I can help Ye Zheng, right?”
Song Ke turned green with certainty.
Zhuang Qingyan sighed, “Old Fang is a doctor, and even he is helpless. What can I do?”
The triangular head of the chameleon drooped down, instantly turning into a sorrowful blue, exuding a somewhat dejected atmosphere.
The room fell into silence, Zhuang Qingyan used two fingers to massage Song Ke’s back, his eyelashes drooping, his eyes like an abyss that couldn’t see the light.
“It’s not entirely impossible…” he slowly elongated his voice, “There is a possibility, although it’s slim, it’s worth a try.”
Song Ke’s chubby claws held onto his pajamas, gently pulling, urging him not to beat around the bush and quickly reveal the method.
Zhuang Qingyan didn’t rush to answer, holding her two front limbs, leaning forward a bit, his captivating peach blossom eyes curved charmingly, “I’ll think of the method. As an exchange, what do you promise me? In the posture of a graceful poplar, I wholeheartedly seek your favor. If I have the honor of being the sole favorite in the harem, that would be even better.”
Song Ke’s two eyeballs went blank, “…”
How can someone be shameless enough to flirt with a lizard… Ugh, how outrageous!
She released a bit of awakened energy, slap, and the fragile silk pajamas instantly burst open, leaving the neckline wide open.
Zhuang Qingyan lowered his head to glance, raising an eyebrow slightly, “Can’t believe you’re in such a hurry?”
Song Ke: “…”
Song Ke disappeared on the spot.
Zhuang Qingyan’s eyebrows and eyes relaxed, his expression eased, and he laughed out loud, glimpses of the proud and spirited youth could be vaguely seen through layers of time.
“Give me the terminal.”
A small bee terminal flew out into the air, and after a moment, Zhuang Qingyan connected to the video call.
The projection flickered twice, revealing a person in a white lab coat who looked hurried – it was Dr. Ning Rong.
“Dr. Ning, how’s your recent research going?” Zhuang Qingyan casually greeted.
“It’s you? How come you have time…” Dr. Ning mumbled vaguely, not stopping his footsteps. The background seemed to be a laboratory corridor. Suddenly, he remembered something and excitedly said, “I found the critical value! Mutations caused by DNA breakage under high-dose radiation are not inevitable, as long as…”
Dr. Ning eloquently introduced his preliminary results, and Zhuang Qingyan occasionally responded with a few words.
“I have a new research topic here. Are you interested?”
“What topic?”
“Cell division lineage research, mainly focused on organ regeneration. I can provide you with relevant research materials, on the condition that I must personally participate and lead the project. The list with the highest confidentiality clearance can only include you and me.”
Dr. Ning Rong’s footsteps halted, his gaze blank. “Say that again, are you sure it’s ‘cell division lineage research for organ regeneration’?”
“Sure.” Zhuang Qingyan’s expression remained unchanged. “Come to Qianzhan City Laboratory tomorrow, and we can discuss it in person.”
On the other side of the communication, Dr. Ning Rong was shocked to the point of being speechless, only the surging flames burned fiercely in his heart.
Cell division and organ regeneration are both secrets related to the ‘Fire Seed.’
Has this guy been possessed? Just a few days ago, he was shouting, “What does benefiting all mankind have to do with me?” And now he suddenly changed his mind?
*
Early the next day.
Qianzhan City.
The hole in the ceiling was patched up, and the refurbished lab was lined with a variety of sophisticated and complex instruments.
Zhuang Qingyan lowered his head to adjust the data, Song Ke’s tail wrapped around the horizontal bar of the ecological cultivation box, hanging upside down, swaying leisurely.
Ning Rong, who came in wearing a hat and mask, was startled, then surprised: “Lizard genes?”
He stared at Song Ke for two seconds, his eyes getting brighter and bursting into enthusiastic research questions, “How much is the emotional value after fusion? Have you measured the awakened energy? Can the abilities be used normally?”
He even approached and reached out to pinch Song Ke for observation: “I suggest doing a spectroscopic analysis first…”
Song Ke’s slender tongue flickered and a dark blue sword stopped at Ning Rong’s nose.
Ning Rong’s footsteps halted, realizing that this experimental subject was not someone he could provoke, and he dryly said, “Well… kid, you do it.”
Zhuang Qingyan calmly pressed the hovering spiritual weapon, lightly smiling, “Dr. Ning, don’t be handsy, my partner has a temper.”
Song Ke cooperatively raised her back, turning her entire body into a bright red, emitting a threatening aura.
Ning Rong: “…” Strange taste.
“No need to draw blood,” Zhuang Qingyan didn’t waste words, “Time is limited, these are the gene results from last time, let’s reverse the radiation directly.”
Ning Rong changed his clothes for disinfection, took a glance at the running screen, and the spectrometer showed four genes: Hook Snake, Wildcat, Brown Bear, and Chameleon. The complex DNA chains interwove, with chameleon clearly dominating, crazily devouring nearby cells, posing extremely high risks.
“The chameleon activity is too high. For safety, adjust the radiation values to 22.025% – 26.745%,” Zhuang Qingyan said without a sound, giving him a glance. It seems Ning Rong’s research has indeed progressed, now precise to three decimal places.
The two entered the partitioned room, attached the sensors, and Song Ke flicked his tail towards Zhuang Qingyan’s lower leg, meaning clearly: get out.
The reverse radiation is not a good thing. Now it’s set to over 20%. Although her unique physique is not significantly affected, it would be challenging for an ordinary S-level to endure. Zhuang Qingyan himself had a “feeble body”, and excessive radiation would undoubtedly be harmful to him. There was no need to accompany her.
Seeing her firm attitude, Zhuang Qingyan removed the communicator and placed it around the neck of the small chameleon. “Alright, I’ll wait outside. Call me if there’s any issue. If you can’t speak, knock three times, and I’ll come in.”
Before leaving, Zhuang Qingyan paused for a moment, adjusted the protective glass, and switched to an invisible mode. “After turning back, remember to wear clothes.”
Song Ke: “?” Of course, she would wear clothes!
Low-intensity reverse radiation filled the entire isolation room, and each time the wavelength changed, Zhuang Qingyan would remind Song Ke.
“Excluding the four known wavelengths, nearly 5% fluctuation range, I don’t know what will come out this time,” Ning Rong remarked while staring at the instrument. “It’s better to have a stable outcome.”
Opening the blind box was a matter of luck.
Zhuang Qingyan didn’t speak. Genetic engineering, especially genetic fusion, was impossible without using animals for experimentation. The DNA composition inside Song Ke was complex, and perhaps… none of them were a good match.
After another change in the wavelength, Song Ke’s clear voice sounded from the communicator, “Zhuang Qingyan.”
Zhuang Qingyan quickly pressed pause, “I’m here.”
Song Ke chuckled, “I’ve turned back!”
Ignoring the instrument results, Zhuang Qingyan took big steps forward, his voice laced with a smile, “I’m coming in. Are you dressed?”
“I, am, dressed!”
The door was pushed open, and Song Ke, wearing a white T-shirt and shorts, swung her legs while sitting on the experimental table, looking displeased at him, “I’m not you. I would definitely wear—”
Zhuang Qingyan strode over and tightly hugged her.
Song Ke instantly fell silent, pressed against his chest, listening to his thumping heartbeat. Her ears turned redder and redder.
The two hugged for a while, and Zhuang Qingyan checked her limbs, “Is there any discomfort? Or do you feel anything unusual?”
Song Ke thought for a moment and shook her head seriously, “No.”
Hand in hand, the two came out, and Ning Rong stared at the instrument with a solemn expression, “Come over and take a look.”
Following his gaze, Zhuang Qingyan lowered his head.
Curious, Song Ke squeezed her head in, although she couldn’t understand it, she wanted to feel involved.
“The data analysis is almost complete. This time, there is probably only one manifesting gene, and its stability is very good. It should be fine for one or two months,” Zhuang Qingyan reported as detailed information gradually emerged.
Ning Rong stared at a few lines of data, unable to hide his surprise, “What? Second activation?”
Second activation refers to the reappearance of genes with dominant traits, such as the Hook Snake or Wild Cat. However, they had already eliminated the first batch of four, so such a mistake was impossible.
Even Zhuang Qingyan couldn’t help but be astonished. Could it be that, apart from those four, Song Ke had previously shown symptoms of gene fusion?
“No,” Song Ke honestly replied. She had been perfectly normal from childhood to now.
Ding! The spectrometer stopped running, displaying the result: “This gene is not recorded in the database.”
Ning Rong was dumbfounded. This gene spectrometer covered the entire Alliance’s biological lineage. What did it mean not being in the database?
Zhuang Qingyan couldn’t help but frown. All successfully fused genes would be recorded unless… it was the failed part, which could be anything and more difficult to judge.
“Song Ke, are you sure you’re not feeling any discomfort?” Zhuang Qingyan’s brow furrowed.
“I’m fine,” Song Ke nodded.
Still worried, Zhuang Qingyan conducted various physical examinations, and this time, there was a new discovery.
Ning Rong pointed at the resonance meter in shock, “Awakened energy stable at 14,000.”
Seeing Song Ke’s confusion, Ning Rong sighed deeply, “Congratulations, second awakening… no, according to your awakener circle’s terms, you’ve upgraded to S8.”
S8’s awakened energy ranged from 13,000 to 15,000. Song Ke’s previous level was 12,000, and now it was stable at 14,000, a clear improvement in strength.
S7 was already explosive. Once the news of Song Ke’s promotion to S8 was announced, it would undoubtedly stir up a storm in the Alliance.
…
“When would the research you mentioned start?” Ning Rong asked in a low voice after leaving the laboratory.
“The sooner, the better,” Zhuang Qingyan replied in a hushed tone. The situation with Ye Zheng was urgent. Before coming here, Zhuang Qingyan had asked Ye Zimei about his situation. As long as Ye Zheng agreed, the surgery could take place as early as a week later. “Song Ke and I will go to the Trial Court first, and then we’ll find you later.”
Ning Rong acknowledged with a sound, keeping up with the two awakened individuals, panting as he spoke, “I’ve arranged the confidentiality permissions you mentioned. I’ve screened all the assistants. When the research process is dismantled, no one will notice…”
The three figures gradually moved away.
A miniature drone hovered in the sky and then returned to a skywalk several kilometers away, where two figures stood.
One of them glanced at the real-time surveillance and looked puzzled. “Who is this person? Why is Ning Rong getting so close to him?”
The two Central Court agents had been tracking Ning Rong for a long time, monitoring him closely since he arrived at the Northern Base. Ning Rong, a former core member of the “Eternal Life Project” and from the Qinglan Research Institute, was suspected by the Central Court of concealing important research data, deliberately leaving the project, and wanting to establish his own foothold to take over the experimental results.
However, Ning Rong was a thorough scientific researcher who usually kept a low profile. He rarely interacted with people, and with awakener guards around the laboratory perimeter, it was challenging to infiltrate. They had followed him for several months, but they were at an impasse until recently when Ning Rong came to Qianzhan City twice, raising suspicions.
The other person skillfully exported the recent photos and videos, organizing them into periodic reporting documents.
“Do your job; it’s not our business to use our brains. Send these to surveillance,” the agent said.
Among the countless images, there was an inconspicuous side profile photo of a young man.
Young Zhuang Qingyan was wearing a white robe, donning gold-rimmed glasses, and had an elegant and handsome face. Despite being dressed as a researcher like Ning Rong, his temperament was completely different from Ning Rong, who had heavy dark circles under his eyes.
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